Graduate Aspiring Educational Psychologist

Pertemps Education Network; Newbury; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Pertemps Education Network are recruiting for a Pastoral & Learning Support Assistant / Aspiring Educational Psychologist for a small specialist school near Newbury. The role focuses on SEMH support, building relationships and promoting wellbeing for students aged with social, emotional and mental health needs.

You will gain hands-on experience, CPD and restorative approaches, with training provided and potential progression towards clinical or educational psychology.

Qualifications

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to build strong, supportive relationships.
• Calm, empathetic, resilient, and able to work in challenging situations.
• Motivated, professional, and enthusiastic to learn.
• No previous experience required, full training and CPD provided.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with students who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
• Support students’ social, emotional, and mental health development.
• Encourage engagement, confidence, and resilience in learning.
• Work alongside teachers and therapists to deliver therapeutic interventions and SEMH-focused support.
• Provide consistency and safety for students with trauma or adverse childhood experiences.
• Model empathy, restorative approaches, and resilience every day.This role provides practical experience in SEMH, therapeutic practice, and intervention strategies, giving aspiring educational psychologists valuable insight into working with children and young people.

Skills

Empathy

Interpersonal skills

Calm under pressure

Motivation to learn

Education

Degree in Psychology or Criminology

Job description

Location: Newbury, Berkshire | Contract: Full-time, term-time only | Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:00pm | Start Date: ASAP | Pay: £88–£115 per day

Are you passionate about understanding and supporting young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing?

Do you want hands‑on experience in SEMH settings while exploring a career as a Clinical or Educational Psychologist?

A small, specialist school near Newbury are seeking a motivated Pastoral & Learning Support Assistant / Aspiring Educational Psychologist to join their dedicated SEMH team.

The school supports students aged with social, emotional and mental health needs and associated challenging behaviours. Many students may be disengaged from learning or at risk of exclusion, so building positive relationships and demonstrating the value of education is central to the role.

This is an excellent opportunity for Psychology or Criminology graduates to gain practical experience in restorative, trauma-informed approaches, and to develop skills essential for a future career in clinical psychology, educational psychology, or therapeutic roles.

Your Role

As an Aspiring Educational Psychologist / Pastoral & Learning Support Assistant, you will:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with students who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
• Support students’ social, emotional, and mental health development.
• Encourage engagement, confidence, and resilience in learning.
• Work alongside teachers and therapists to deliver therapeutic interventions and SEMH-focused support.
• Provide consistency and safety for students with trauma or adverse childhood experiences.
• Model empathy, restorative approaches, and resilience every day.This role provides practical experience in SEMH, therapeutic practice, and intervention strategies, giving aspiring educational psychologists valuable insight into working with children and young people.

Person Specification

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to build strong, supportive relationships.
• Calm, empathetic, resilient, and able to work in challenging situations.
• Motivated, professional, and enthusiastic to learn.
• No previous experience required, full training and CPD provided.

What We Offer

• Hands‑on experience with vulnerable, disengaged students.
• Restorative and trauma-informed training, CPD, and mentoring.
• Opportunities to explore careers in clinical psychology, educational psychology, therapy, or SEN support.
• A supportive, small-school environment where you can make a real difference every day.

If you are passionate about supporting disengaged young people and helping them see the value of education, we’d love to hear from you.

You must have the right to work in the UK